Benefits For Entrepreneurs Of Strong Online Personal Brand Authority

Building a project or developing an idea is as exciting as it is difficult. Although it seems like a rewarding adventure, the truth is, it takes hundreds of sleepless nights, talent and a little bit of luck. Most importantly, entrepreneurship requires commitment: committed mentoring, committed networking and committed visibility.

These requirements can be obtained in many different ways. Like in any new business, the people leading it are more important than the project itself.

One common trait of entrepreneurs is that founders or CEOs sometimes become highly recognized and followed "personalities." Everyone looking to create the next best thing or a unicorn company is an active consumer of great books and ideas, conferences and events and even the lives of these public figures.

The fact is that the lives of many entrepreneurs, whether billionaires or fresh-starters, have a very public profile and at times it may be not due to their choosing. They may be very active in social networks, business groups and private "clubs." If you are an entrepreneur, it’s essential to learn not only how to get to know the right people but also to get them to know you.

Successful entrepreneurs and CEOs can have very public lives, even if they’d prefer privacy. Every aspect of their lives may be of public interest. Their life stories, the road to making (or losing) millions and their entire mindset — usually optimistic, imaginative and enterprising — are in demand.

In the same way people follow entertainers, athletes and pop culture icons, individuals such as Elon Musk, Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos are revered personalities and part of our everyday life. All of the above serves to emphasize the importance of your online personal brand presence.

As an entrepreneur, you must take good care of your branding. It would be best if you work on your personal and business network as an integral part of your project. The funding, speed and development of your plans greatly depend on how you handle your own brand and its positioning.

Clara Shih, co-founder of Hearsay Systems, explains, “Your ability to attract, evaluate and forge strong working relationships with co-founders, early employees and investors often mean the difference between failure and success.”

Having a strong online presence will allow you to provide and receive feedback from fellow entrepreneurs, be contacted by investors and media and test your project in the early stages. The benefits of investing time and energy in your online presence are countless.

We are in the age of attention. It is almost certain that, before a business appointment, your clients do a diligent online search about you and your project. In fact, these people may decide whether to give you an appointment or meet for coffee depending on your Google results. Funders, potential collaborators and sponsors may not take you seriously unless you can project that business-focused image as part of your online personal brand.

You and your startup are blended together in more ways than you can imagine. Therefore, you must grow its visibility and credibility in the same way you should increase your own. They go hand in hand as you are passionate about it and the best seller and ambassador of your project — just like Jeff Bezos and Amazon, Elon Musk and Tesla and Richard Branson and Virgin. (Full disclosure: I/we have coached/advised some of the senior leaders from Virgin, Google and LinkedIn.)

That being said, self-promotion with a "high-quality" mindset will benefit the potential of your idea, as well as your ability to reach the key companies and individuals needed for your business to grow and expand. Eventually, people will believe in your vision because they believe in you as an individual and entrepreneur.

Whether in the brainstorm stage or finding investors, there are several actions to help your business. Beyond personal connections, social media, online marketing and focused new networks will be your most valuable tools. Gaining recognition and expanding your brand is now easier than ever.

Besides traditional social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, there is a significant number of sites and platforms to interact with other startups and even promote crowdfunding activities.

Several tools for newfound companies and entrepreneurs can be found online. In my opinion, the first and best place to start is on LinkedIn. You can find corporate advisors, investors and even your next mentor. Connections are legitimate, and in most cases, the accounts are managed by the actual individuals instead of an agency, allowing you to bypass gatekeepers of old and reach key businesspeople directly by contacting them via private message with a premium account.

Share your thoughts and ideas during your business journey. Being authentic is great for blogging and social media. Also, your lived experiences can inspire others and increase your number of high-value followers. Doing this will help to achieve your goals regarding organic marketing.

Also, consider the possibility of writing a blog or even creating your own website using your name. You have a personal story and an entrepreneurial journey. People can relate to those by reading and reposting your personal and professional blog articles. These pieces can be shared via social media to increase organic awareness and following.

There are several alternatives to LinkedIn, such as XING, Cofoundr or Startup Grind. Regardless of the strategy you choose for promoting yourself and your business idea, the most important thing is to do it right now. There is no time to waste when it comes to sharing your project ideas, receiving serious feedback and increasing your online presence and authority.

From Google results to followers on LinkedIn, every single interaction counts. Feel free to share any faux pas, achievements and anecdotes. Just be authentic! Think about the things you read from the entrepreneurs and CEOs you follow. What do they write about? What is most appealing about their online and social media interactions? What real value are they giving? Those are precisely the things you should share as part of your journey.

This article was first published in Forbes.